After the rumors, patents and supposition, Apple's just updated its lineup of computers and included a surprise: a 27-inch TV monster. Okay, it's actually an iMac, but it's quite definitely a move in the televisual direction.

With lots of industry players working on 3-D TV, and the supporting HDMI 1.4 cable format on its way, 3-D television is guaranteed to be pushed on consumers during this holiday shopping season and the next. Panasonic certainly plans to promote the technology, and has just unwrapped a prototype 50-inch plasma unit that displays 3-D.

Steve Jobs famously poo-poohed the idea of Apple adopting Blu-ray, describing the technology as a "bag of hurt." But with hot rumors of an imminent iMac redesign, the Blu-ray drive issue is again in the spotlight. Is Apple about to give in?

This is about as sweet an about-face as you'll see in business: Toshiba, proponent of the failed HD video disc format HD-DVD, is due to swallow its pride and release a Blu-ray machine later this year. It's fabulous news for consumers.